Facing The Open Water

April 18, 2013

Man, this week. Can’t this world catch a break?

More important than any of my trivial babbling, I want to make to send love to the people in West, Texas. The videos are frightening and the raw emotion is haunting. I hate that it’s times like these that often remind us to squeeze our loved ones extra tight, but in any case, make sure you hug ’em until it hurts.

<INSERT AWKWARD TRANSITION>

In much, much, muuuuch lighter news, I have failed to update last week’s training and will opt to do a two week training recap next week as tomorrow’s workout is making my gut ache, my heart pump and my mind in a crazy spiral and it hasn’t even started yet.

Tomorrow night is my first open water swim of the season, followed by another one on Saturday.

For those that may not know, open water and I have issues. Even more so than just swimming in general. We’re talking full-on anxiety issue. Jury, I present Exhibit A.

I suffered from some frustrating open water anxiety last year as it was the first time that I’ve ever really swam in open water. I eventually learned how to manage them (sort of, and note, I’m nowhere near the pace in that photo anymore), but this will be the first time back in a long time and I’m just so nervous to see how my mind and body will react.

I’m fairly open to my fears here on the blog, and it usually ends up being totally ridiculous and I never should have worried in the first place. I’m going to try and keep this in perspective and use some of the open water tips that worked for me last year, including:

I need to do my little anti-anxiety drills, including getting in the water 10 or so minutes before the actual workout starts.

I need to ease in, get warm, and most importantly, start by putting my face in the water, blowing bubbles, and getting comfortable being in the dark water. I have to do this “face dip/bubble drill” at least four or five times. Somehow it calms my heart.

I need to some sprints to get my heart rate up with rest in between, rather than jumping right into the workout.

Needless to say, I’m nervous, but I also know this is 100% mental.

So I’m going to go ahead and trust today’s fortune cookie from lunch in the most positive way possible:

Do you have any other open water swimming tips, or shall we say mental manipulation advice?

Comments

If you can’t blow bubbles before, blowing on your thumb (with it in your mouth like you’re sucking it) will slow your heart rate down. So will bearing down like you’re pooping but that’s a little trickier.

Oh man, I had one open water session last year and it was terrifying. I got through my swim and everything, but I just kept hyperventilating and would have to stop and then calm down before starting again. I realllllyyyy don’t like it when things touch me in open water, so I make sure to stay away from docks and shallow water until I absolutely have to.

You’re doing all the right things. I have similar open water anxiety and find that blowing bubbles really helps, as well as easing in and letting the water in the top of my wetsuit first, before I start swimming. Obviously on race day it will be quite different since you can’t get in before the start at IMCDA, but you’ll have so much else to think about, you won’t even worry about the water! Have a great swim!

You are doing everything right!! I think the most important thing is the “bobs” up and down in the water…blowing lots of bubbles. Put some water into your wetsuit and get it extra comfy! Practice, Practice, Practice!! The more you are in OW the better you will feel. The water in CDA is cold so you need to get used to that!

That’s an awesome fortune! I think we can psyche ourselves out too easily. Think about how comfortable you got in the water last year!
I’m slightly jealous you get to practice open water swimming. Our lakes are still ice covered! I’m pretty sure my first open water swim practice will be once we get to coeur d’Alene!
Good luck!! I know you can do it!

Sounds like it went really well – definitely like the mantra!
For the open water practices, I tell myself that it’s like being a kid again and swimming in a river, a lake or the ocean . It sounds crazy, but it does calm down my mind and lets me control my breathing, even if people are swimming over me, kicking me and/or grabbing at me.